about an hour. crews spent sunday getting everything ready forthebigshow.>>> and the ohs and awes were in atlanta. the skies lit for 15 minutes in more than 4,000 fireworks shells in all nearly 500,000 people attended the fun filled event featuring a fantastic light show core gaffed as always -- choreographed as always to great music. >>> the independence day celebrations in d.c. wouldn't be complete without annual concert a dress rehearsal for pbs's 2011 capital force concert was held yesterday. this year's performance jordin sparks kelo "herrara and broadway cast of million dollar quartet and national symphony orchestra. >> and in philidelphia, people took time out before the activities to visit the place where the declaration of independence was signed. now this brought the family and friends out to the independence mall and the people who came out say that the cookouts and fireworks are fun, but it's nice to take a moment to see what the 4th of july is really about to this great country. >>> new york city right now, the skies erupted filled with brilliant streaks of red, white

. here's abc's chris bury. >> reporter: in minnesota state parks,thebigholidayweekendisabigbust.campers looking forward to a getaway were told instead to get lost. >> well, it's ridiculous. >> it's sad. >> it should never get to that. >> reporter: the closed parks a casualty of the state's budget crisis. so many services arehut down. even industries like logging are grinding to a halt because those trees are on public property. in all, 25,000 state workers laid off.. at the capitol, now closed to the public, minnesota's democratic governor and republican leaders could not agree on fixing a $5 billion budget gap. >> i'm not getting an income now. i don't think any of them should think it necessary for them to have an income either until this is settled. >> reporter: minnesota is the first state to actually shut down much of its government. but many others from new jersey to california are also making painful cuts. at this state park near minneapolis, k ken johnson had planned to spend a week camping with her family. getting ejected left her fuming. >> i think the government need

forabignightand one explosive 4th of july celebration. >>> and annual tradition that can be hard to watch. that's right. who will be the world's hot dog eating champion? thank you. got a preview coming up in a bit when "good morning maryland" returns. first new york for a look at this morning's latest business news. >> reporter: good morning. topping america's money, japan's recovery could aid america's. many economist feel feel the effects of japan's twin natural disasters are almost gone. and we should soon start seeing better jobs here. at the other end of the ladder,ceos of #00 top companies got 23% more than the year before compared to the average worker's salary who made under $40,000 and that's after half a percent increase. nadal was not the only loser at wimbledon, after 43 years, the tennis tournament is leaving nbc and reported will go going to espn. both espn and abc are owned by disney but there's no confirmation. and the latest transformer film was tops at box office. 97 million dollar was the biggest domestic debut of the year. it was not as good as last year's tra

glassed shell. >> reporter: again,thebigshow,the fireworks, will get started at 9:30 tonight. but before that happens, again, live entertainment all day long starting at noon. there will be music for the kids and shows for the kids at the inner harbor's west shore park near the visitor's center and lots of festivities going on throughout the day at the amphitheater. live in federal hill, linda so, abc2 news. >> it's 4:48 right now. >>> changes to be aware of. howard county transit is on a sunday scheduled and connect a right is on a sunday schedule. county offices are closed and animal shelters. and trash and recycling will nobt picked up. >>> if you -- will not be pkd up. >>> if you are headed -- picked up. >>> if you are headed to the beach make sure to have a designated drivey. but if you don't have one, testimoniesy taxi will offer free rides to -- tipsy taxi will be offering free rides up to $50. the program will run through tonight. closing off at 4 a.m. and the number is 877-963-taxi. you can find the information at our website, abc2news.com. >>> we want you to say hel

's basic rules like you have to be in before the streetlights are on. >> or thelightningbigs. >>-- bugs. >> right. you have to be in for me it was streetlights. the streetlights are on you are in. >> reporter: we walked around the harbor today knowing it's a different time for our kids. >> i have two children. and i have to constantly challenge myself, my wife, my kids where you going, how you getting there? how you getting back? whoy going to be with? what are you going do when you get there? it's so basic. >> reporter: butts slogan what started on buffalo -- but the slogan that started on buffalo tv is coming back strong. >> we want to raise the level of awareness and raise the discussion in the whole area about what are we doing with our kids thanks for coming to the harbor. looks like awed great time. >> we have. >> that's jammy costello reporting -- jamie costello reporting. abc2 news will ask the question hoping you will say back yes i do, safe and sound. >>> time to check in with lynette. hello,. >> hi. you know what? we are looking pretty good. we had showers that popped up in

at the beach. they are dealing with aprettybigthunderstormhere. that one will not be effecting us tonight. as we head towards fireworks time it stays steamy. most spots based on the radar trend should stay dry. >>> thousands are packing into the inner harbor for a huge fireworks show tonight. of course security will be a top priority. abc 2 news christian schaffer is live in the thick of it. >> reporter: some 40,000 people expected to watch from the inner harbor tonight. security is going to be a main concern. that is why there will be several hundred city police officers here. some of them are wearing their uniforms. those are only four of them. i have seen at least a few dozen in the hour or so that we have been here. the focus is on safety. hundreds in plain clothes and in uniforms. last night there was a shooting in a parking garage just north of the inner harbor and in a spot where a lot of people are coming downtown to watch the show. the victim was shot in the chest but is expected to survive. police not releasing his name. police have been quick to point out that this was not som

baltimore to seethebigfireworksshow. will the show go on without any threat of a thunderstorm. here is wit with a look at the forecast. >> i can't say without any stretch but just a slight chance of a passing storm. we have hazy sunshine. look at the people packing things down here. it is warm. upper 80s right now. you can see down through millersville. almost 95 now in easton. we'll show you maryland's most powerful radar. there are no storms surrounding baltimore. further west there are storms in western maryland, cumberland towards frostburg and friendsville area. this is the area where we are seeing storms right now. optimistic that whatever storms continue to move west will dive south into virginia and miss most of our fireworks. the rest of this evening will go 80s. scattered storms to the west. warm and muggy. we'll talk about your back to work forecast coming up. >>> let's talk money right now. in your money tonight working at the white house comes with some pretty good perks. you get to know the president. you might get a chance to ride on air force one and you have great h

" returns. @ú?n ♪ that aroma's coming through ♪ forthebigdayahead of youmorning.bigday,huh? morning, mom! are you excited? ♪ the best part of wakin' up ♪ is folgers in your cup. [ jim ] you know, that's our business so we want to be the experts in chicken. we're not the status quo. perdue is the first and the only chicken company to have usda-process-verified programs for fresh all-natural chickens. [ jim ] this is an all-vegetarian diet, no animal by-products, no animal fat. [ joe ] we never have used steroids or hormones of any type. it's not gonna happen. [ joe ] and always raised cage free. we set our goals higher than anyone. we're trying to make a better chicken. [ jim ] my dad did, my grandfather did and it's what we do today. >>> now "good morning maryland." >>> your abc2 news to go. happy 4th of july i am megan pringle. >> i am charley crowson. let's go to the forecast with meteorologist lynette charles. >> all right. i have the 4th of july forecast. we have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, but they will be scattered in nature. as we go into the 9:00 time frame, t

are accounted for right now. we're still working to confirm that. elizabeth, you have been there.abigtouristdestination. >> the water there is very deep and attracts a lot of deep-sea fishing. >>> elizabeth, now, to the latest on the explosive closing arguments in the casey anthony trial. a trial that has transfixed with some bizarre turns. judge belvin perry took the step of halting proceedings as the opposing attorneys lost their collective cool. >> reporter: good morning, josh. those closing arguments were rieflting. full of twists and turns. at one point the judge threatened to throw boft attorneys off the case and there's more to come this morning. >> there wasn't piece of duct tape over caylee's face. there were three. overlapping at angles. >> reporter: if you believe the prosecution, casey anthony was a party girl who wanted freedom at any cost. >> and she died because her mother decided that the life that she wanted was more important. >> reporter: if you believe the defense, she was a victim. >> casey reacts the way she does and lies because of the environment that she was brought

come out this week. >>> other end of the economic ladder, paychecksforbigbossesare heading back up again. the ceos of 200 top companies last year averaged almost $11 million per year, that's 23% more than the year before. compared to the average worker salary of just under $50,000. doesn't quite seem fair. >> it doesn't. really. >>> rafael nadal wasn't the only loser at wimbledon this weekend, after 43 years, the tennis broadcast is leaving nbc and is reportedly going to espn. both espn and abc are owned by disney. no official con fir nation yet. >>> a long-lost painting by leonardo da vincnc it's sa save your of the world, it shows jesus christ with one hand raised in a blessing. art expertrtsay it could fetch more than $200 million at auction. >>> at the box office this weekend, the latest transformers film had the biggest domestic this transformers e sequel took in $97 million. and bad teacher was left back in third with $14 million. >> transformers, $100 million. that's inkraebl. very long movie. 2 1/2 hours. >>> when we come back -- the extreme weather across the nation for th

. >>> there will be fireworks tonight in fullerton, annapolis, bell air butthebigdaddyat inner harbor. we go live to christian schaffer. can you feel police presence? >> reporter: they always say they bring out the uniformed officers. there will be officers here tonight not in uniforms. we are starting to see some of the festival goers getting into the inner harbor l. has been music playing since noon today and that will go on right up until the show starts at 9:30 tonight. the actual fireworks are about a mile to our south in curtis bay and will be flying over us when the show actually starts. that is where two barges have been stacked up. you look for different kinds of fireworks. it is the 30th anniversary of the national aquarium. they are deploying jellyfish shells. we'll see what those look like. we're talking about half moon shells. in all more than 1400 shells going to go up in the show that is 18 minutes long all synchronized to music. they say it is going to be a great show and also a safe one. >> safety is our number one concern. we always do everything above and beyond safety requirem

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